‘Rotting flesh’ Titan Arum to bloom at Basel Botanical Garden
A rare Titan Arum is due to flower at the University of Basel’s Botanical Garden in Switzerland. The tropical plant only flowers for two days, giving off an odour of rotting flesh.
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‘Rotting flesh’ Titan Arum to bloom at Basel Botanical Garden
The univerrsity’s Tropical House opens its doors to the public on Wednesday evening until 2am. Furthermore, there is no admission charge for visiting the Botanical Gardens.
This endangered plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia. It produces the world’s largest flower, which can grow to over three metres in height.
On the first evening, the titan arum gives off an intense smell of rotting meat. This stench specifically attracts pollinators such as carrion flies, beetles and bees.
The specimen at the University of Basel’s Botanical Garden last flowered in July 2023. The flower’s development can also be viewed live via a webcam on the Botanical Garden’s website.
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Translated from German, reviewed by an English Department journalist.
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